The Apprenticeship
It turned out that Clarke was an incredibly talented artist. The charcoal portrait she did of Lexa in profile earned her top marks in class and was chosen for display in the student art show at the end of the semester. The success and notoriety of the work spurred Clarke to enroll in more art classes, and she indeed found her calling when she picked up a paintbrush for the first time.
All the while, Lexa happily sat for her, thrilled to be a muse for her girlfriend. That’s right, girlfriend. For the past six months, ever since she first sat for Clarke, they had been inseparable, and Lexa couldn’t be happier.
Lexa had one month left of undergrad work, and she had already been accepted into the college’s masters program. Which meant she’d be around for Clarke’s senior year, a most pleasant consequence.
Lexa was finishing up the last flashcard she’d use excessively while preparing for her finals in the next few weeks when her front door flew open. Clarke stormed in with a completely unreadable expression, walking right up to Lexa.
“I got it,” she stated firmly.
Lexa was unsure of what she was referring to, so she erred on the side of caution and just repeated Clarke’s statement as a question. “You got it?”
“I got the apprenticeship! I got it!”
Realization dawned on Lexa, and she stood, wrapping Clarke up in an embrace so enthusiastic, she lifted her off the ground. “You got it!” Lexa exclaimed as she spun Clarke gleefully.
Lexa carefully lowered Clarke to her feet and kissed her cheek. “I can’t believe it,” Clarke muttered. “I can’t believe I got it.”
“I can. You’re so incredibly talented and the hardest worker I’ve ever met. They’d be foolish to pass up on an apprentice like you.”
Clarke rolled her eyes, but Lexa could see the gratitude for her words hiding there. “You’re just saying that because you love me.”
“I’m saying that despite my love for you,” Lexa argued. “You’re special, Clarke. It’s high time you believed that.”
Clarke suddenly threw her body against Lexa’s and nuzzled into the crook of her neck. “You’re something else, tiger.”
Lexa returned the embrace, just letting Clarke pull whatever comfort she needed at the moment. When she finally felt Clarke relax her hold, Lexa pulled back with a smirk on her face. “We’re celebrating tonight.”
“Don’t you have to study?” Clarke glanced at the stack of notecards piled on the table. “I know you were planning on prepping tonight, but I just had to tell you in person. I can leave you to your flashcard fiesta.”
“Clarke, celebrating your apprenticeship with the most prestigious art gallery in town is far more important than my flashcard fiesta.”
“Who are you, and what have you done with my girlfriend?” Clarke glared at her, and Lexa couldn’t bear the scrutiny.
“Okay, I already finished making my flashcards, and I’m suddenly looking at a very free evening. So I’m thinking a homecooked meal, ice cream, snuggles, and at least two episodes of that horrible show you’re making me watch.”
Clarke paused and thoughtfully tapped a finger to her lips. “Throw in a foot massage, and you’ve just described the night of my dreams.”
“I was planning on an entirely different sort of massage later, but if foot is what you desire, then foot it shall be.”
“Oh,” Clarke smirked, her eyes suddenly dark and beautiful.
That sight would have been enough to cause a wet hot pool of desire to settle in Lexa’s lower abdomen, but then Clarke dragged her finger from Lexa’s bottom lip down to the button of her flannel, expertly popping it open, and the suggestion had Lexa clenching her thighs. “I think I could do both,” Lexa squeaked.
Lexa woke the next morning with a very naked Clarke snuggled up against her chest. She gently pushed back a few strands of hair from her forehead, just eager to gaze upon the face she was still enamored with.
“I can hear you thinking,” Clarke grumbled against her bare skin, causing goosebumps to erupt on her belly.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t,” Clarke sighed as she removed herself from Lexa and propped up on her elbows. Lexa loved morning Clarke. She was so pure and fresh; it was Clarke in her most authentic form. “I’ve been awake for a little while, but you were just so comfy, and your heartbeat is like the most relaxing thing in the world. It’s so steady and strong. Just like you.”
“Your pillow talk is adorable.” Lexa leaned up and pulled Clarke down for a good morning kiss. She sighed and tangled her hands in Clarke’s hair, ready to deepen it, but when Clarke didn’t reciprocate her enthusiasm as she always did, Lexa released her immediately. “What is it?”
“Oh,” Clarke waved her off. “It’s nothing.”
Clarke attempted to kiss her again, but Lexa stopped her with a soft smile. “You can talk to me.”
“It really is no big deal,” Clarke relented and rolled on her back. She stared at the ceiling as she ranted away. “I just have to start looking for apartments for the summer. The apprenticeship starts the last week of May, and I’ll be out of my dorm by then. And the market around here is crazy, especially over the summer, and I’m just freaking out a little that I won’t find something I like in time.”
Lexa nodded her head as she listened to Clarke, but her mind began to wander on its own. She’d be more than happy to help Clarke find an apartment, preferably somewhere safe and close to campus so that she could keep the place when her senior year started. Then again, Lexa had this place all to herself. They’d only been dating for six months, and it was pretty quick to take such a giant leap in their relationship. Lexa was sure that Clarke was her one, but she didn’t want to put pressure on Clarke so soon.